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[[Image:Rough-legged_Hawk.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|muskrat|muskrat}} <br / > Location: North-eastern [[Pennsylvania]]]] | [[Image:Rough-legged_Hawk.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|muskrat|muskrat}} <br / > Location: North-eastern [[Pennsylvania]]]] | ||
;[[:Category:Buteo|Buteo]] lagopus | ;[[:Category:Buteo|Buteo]] lagopus | ||
Revision as of 20:09, 4 February 2011
Alternative name: Rough-legged Hawk
- Buteo lagopus
Identification
53-63cm. Wings long and broad. Brown upperparts, paler, streaked head, brown-spotted white breast, and dark breast band. The legs are fully feathered. Wings are mostly pale below but in typical birds have a dark square at the base of the hand and in adults are dark-edged. Tail is white with one broad dark subterminal band and 0-5 additional narrow bands close the the subterminal band. In the American subspecies, a dark morph occurs where body and wingcoverts are completely dark but flight feathers and tail are quite typical, almost silvery white in this form. In all forms, a broad white uppertail is diagnostic (a narrow version of this can be seen in Common Buzzard) and most often, you should notice pale basis of primaries on the upperside of the wing.
Similar Species
Can be told from Common Buzzard in flight by the whitish tail with the single dark bar at the end. Is more inclined to hover than Common or Honey Buzzard.
Distribution
Breeds North America, Canada, Europe and Asia; most if not all populations are migratory, wintering south of the breeding areas.
In North America breeds in the northern half of Canada, wintering mainly in the USA.
In Europe breed in Scandinavia through northern Russia, wintering mainly south of the Baltic Sea to The Balkans and east of that. Irregular winter visitor to east coast of England, more regularly in Scotland and Northern Isles.
Taxonomy
Four subspecies are recognized[1]: lagopus, menzbieri, kamtschatkensis, and sanctijohannis.
Habitat
Mostly wilder coastal areas; tundra, open prairies, farmland, marshes.
Behaviour
Flight
Hunts harrier-like low over the ground with frequent interludes of hovering. Glides with wings markedly angled at carpal joint.
Diet
Its diet includes small mammals such as rabbits, voles and lemmings.
Breeding
Nests on cliff ledges, trees, or even on the ground in high tundra. Two to seven eggs are laid, incubation lasts 28-31 days and after a further 39-45 days, the young fledge.
Vocalisation
Quite loud cat-like mee-oo.
<flashmp3>Buteo lagopus (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, James F. 2007. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to October 2007. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. ISBN 9780801445019
- Birdwatchers Pocket Guide ISBN 1-85732-804-3
- Collins Pocket Guide to British Birds 1966
- Collins Field Guide 5th Edition
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Rough-legged Buzzard. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 23 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Rough-legged_Buzzard
External Links
This link searches for videos titled Rough-legged Buzzard
